Dates and Facts re possible strikes  8/1/2000

8/1/2000 The Hollywood Reporter: 

"SAG celebrity activists agitate for seats on board  
Kirkland, Fisher, Pantoliano will run in the fall"
By David Robb

The actors named above who are very active in the current SAG strike against commercial producers have notified the guild of their intentions to run for seats on the Guild's Hollywood board of directors. They haven't been previously involved with SAG politics.

There are 6 others mentioned in the article who are very active in the strike and also active in union affairs who are also running for seats.

Update: 8/21 

The Hollywood Reporter ran a story about the official endorsement by the SAG nominating committee of a slate "heavy with picket regulars" for the upcoming elections for seats on SAG Board of Directors.

12/7

Performers Alliance - Slate of 11 strike activists running for LA AFTRA board

1/3/1

Hollywood Reporter - Writers agree to early negotiations.

Analysis:

What this could mean to you as an IATSE member:

If SAG and AFTRA vote to elect board members who have been activists in the commercial strike, this should send a clear signal to Producers that the membership solidly supports their union and if negotiations don't go well that they are prepared to go on strike and stay out for a long time.

Of course much of this could depend on the effect of the commercial strike - but with a union like SAG it's hard to tell.  Since most members are out of work most of the time a long strike doesn't have the same effect on them as it does on people who depend on a weekly paycheck.  And if the goals of the union contract proposals are perceived to be of such importance and would have a profound impact on the next 10-20 years of their careers then the length of the commercial strike might not stop or impede continued activism on their Film/TV contract issues.

In the event of a strike there will be a huge pool of creative, talented people with a lot of time on their hands and I would hope that this time would be used wisely in a concerted effort by an strong alliance of all the entertainment unions and guilds in this country to educate the politicians and general public about the state of our industry.  (see below)

We can educate the public about the over $10 Billion American Dollars a year being spent in other countries, mainly Canada.  

by American Production Companies 
making American Movies & TV shows 
for a Primarily American audience and 
often times photographed as "American" locations - 

It's $10 Billion Dollars that is not being spent in the American economy, 
It's $10 Billion Dollars that not subject to American sales and income tax.  

This directly effects everyone else in this country who must pay more to make up for the shortfall in taxes and loses to business because the lumber, paint, screws,  wallpaper, carpet, fixtures, gas, vehicle rental and the 1000's of other products that are purchased and rented from venders outside those dedicated to servicing the industry directly

The DGA/SAG study of "economic" runaway production calculated the economic impact was 10.3 Billion Dollars in 1998.  

DGA President Jack Shea. "It is impossible to look at this study and say that this issue does not pose a grave threat to the future of film and television production in the United States.

SAG President Richard Masur. " ... It is clear from the Monitor Report, however, that we are looking at no less than the erosion of the economic foundation of our industry, the export of proprietary technology and a profound threat to our members’ livelihoods.